Mohun Bagan officials have decided not to participate in the prestigious Durand Cup this year. This is the second consecutive year when the National Club won’t field its team in the country’s oldest tournament. Incidentally Mohun Bagan was the first ‘native’ club to be invited for this tournament during the British rule. Mohun Bagan had requested Indian Army to reconsider its decision for prohibiting the clubs to practice in Kolkata Maidan between 1st and 15th October.

Meanwhile Club Gen. Secretary has asked the Ministry of Defense to reconsider the decision of barring the Maidan from 1st to 15th October.  Following is the letter –

Dated: 3rd August 2011

The GOC-in-C
Eastern Command
Fort William
Kolkata

Dear Sir,

We would like to bring to your attention that every year from 1st to 15th October in the Maidan Area of Kolkata (which houses most of the football clubs including ours and which is a Defence property), all sporting activities are suspended and it is also barred to keep any lights on. Even regular administrative work is severely hampered.

As you are aware, this occurs as per a Defence Rule dating back to the British era. However as you can easily appreciate this rule is now totally defunct and illogical and totally opposed to the interests of the clubs, the supporters and Sports itself and we have always voiced our opinion that this rule should be abolished with immediate effect. However our repeated appeals to the Defence authorities in Kolkata as well as in Delhi have fallen on deaf ears.

The Defence is a major patron of Sports and has produced many great sportspersons like Major Dhyan Chand. The Mission Olympic Programme of the Indian Army is also praise-worthy. We therefore request you to please look into the matter and bring in the necessary changes. Once this rule is abolished, the relations between the Sports fraternity and the Defence Establishment will be better than ever before.

Your support and cooperation for the cause of Sports is eagerly solicited.

Warm Regards,

Anjan Kumar Mitra
Hony. General Secretary
Mohun Bagan Athletic Club

 

Mohun Bagan officials are set to have a Press meet to announce the team for the season. At 4:50 pm Steve Darby, the newly appointed Head Coach of Mohun Bagan entered the club tent, along with Debasish Dutta. Press meet starts at 5:15PM IST. The panel holds Anjan Mitra, Debashis Dutta, Steve Darby and Atindra Nath Sen (UB Group)

5:19 PM IST – Steve Darby is introduced to the media and the fans/members of  Mohun Bagan.

 

The four foreigners will be – Barreto, Odafe , Simon Storey(Australia), Hudson Lima Silva(Brazil). Barreto will be captain of the team. Barnerd will be Deputy to Mr. Darby.

Coach: Steve Darby
Assistant Coach: Bernard Oparanozie
Goalkeeping Coach: Hemanta Dora
Physio: Jonathan Corner

 

After a gap of 4 years – Bagan will have a Physio this season.

The practice session starts from July 27th.

Team –

GOALKEEPER –

Shilton Paul (Mohun Bagan AC) – VICE CAPTAIN
Sangram Mukherjee (Mohun Bagan AC)
Souvik Mondal (Air India)
Sudipta Banerjee (Mohun Bagan AC)

DEFENDER:

Surkumar Singh (Mohun Bagan AC)
R. Dhanarajan (Mohun Bagan AC)
N. Mohanraj (Mohun Bagan AC)
Anwar Ali (Mohun Bagan AC)
Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan AC)
Kingshuk Debnath (Mohun Bagan AC)
Anupam Sarkar (Md. Sporting Club)
Sourav Chakraborty (Aryan FC)
Simon Storey(Australia)

MIDFIELDER:

Manish Maithani (Mohun Bagan AC)
Souvik Chakraborty (Mohun Bagan AC)
Jewel Raja (Indian Arrows)
Snehasish Chakraborty (Mohun Bagan AC)
Rahim Nabi (East Bengal)
N.P.Pradeep (Viva Kerala)
Gouranga Dutta (Mohun Bagan AC)
Satish Kumar (Mohun Bagan AC)
Dipendu Duari (Mohun Bagan AC)
Bungo Singh (Air India)
Joseph Murali (HAL)
Hudson Lima Silva (Brazil)
Sakhatar Singh (JCT)

FORWARD:

Okolie Odafa (Churchill Brothers) (Nigeria)
Jose Ramirez Barreto (Mohun Bagan AC) (Brazil) – CAPTAIN
Sunil Chhetri (United Sports Club)
Ashim Biswas (Mohun Bagan AC)
Jagtar Singh (Indian Arrows)

Invitation Cards for Mohun Bagan Day Celebration scheduled on 29th July 2011 at Netaji Indoor Stadium would be available complimentary for all Club Members against production of valid Membership Card issued by the Club for the 2011-2012 football season. Renewal of Membership Cards can be done simultaneously (two passport size photos required). The Invitation Cards (Gallery seats) can be collected from the Club Tent premises as per the following dates and timings:

• 25th July 2011 : From 2 pm to 7 pm

• 26th to 28th July 2011 : From 11 am to 8 pm

• 29th July 2011 : From 11 am to 6 pm